Noel Heavey, is tattooed by artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family's tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A Cross to Bare: Tattoos and Tradition in Jerusalem

A small shop in the heart of Jerusalem’s walled Old City offers Christian pilgrims indelible memories of their visit to the holy city: tattoos with religious designs unchanged for centuries

Blending modern technology with tradition, the Razzouk family uses the Internet to draw clients to their business in a place that is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, takes a picture on a mobile phone showing an ancient wooden tattoo stamp displayed near a recently completed tattoo at his studio in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Noel Heavey, 54, from Ireland, never thought he would want a tattoo. But he said he stumbled on the Razzouks’ website and “was just really taken by it”.

Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, looks on during his an interview to Reuters at his studio in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

So on his first trip to Jerusalem, as the city’s Christian Quarter began to prepare for Christmas, he chose a pattern with clean and simple lines. It was a black and red Jerusalem cross, made up of one central cross and four smaller ones, adorned with palm trees and the number 2017, representing his pilgrimage and the year his mother died.

A woman shows off her fresh tattoo done by artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, at his studio in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The Razzouks began their craft in Egypt, where fellow Coptic Christians traditionally mark their wrists with a cross.

Proprietor Wassim Razzouk, 44, said he resisted going into the family business for many years. But now the motorcycle-riding owner is teaching the art of tattooing to his 14-year-old son.

Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, holds an ancient wooden tattoo stamp near a tattoo he recently completed on his customer’s arm at his studio in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Some of the shop’s designs date back to Crusader times, but Razzouk can customize ancient patterns to fit client preferences.

“It’s something that you will never regret, because you are proud of it. And it’s the traditional thing to do,” said Razzouk, whose own collection of tattoos bears witness to that conviction.

(Editing by Jeffrey Heller and John Stonestreet)

Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, completes a tattoo on a customers arm at his studio in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A man walks past the studio of tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Ancient wooden tattoo stamps are displayed at the studio of tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Pages displaying different Christian cross designs are seen at the studio of tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family’s tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, in Jerusalem’s Old City November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen